Feb 13, 2026
This Week at the Statehouse - Week 5
With the first funnel next week (February 20), these weeks continue to be full of subcommittee and committee work as legislators push to advance bills through the process. During the first funnel, bills introduced in the House need to be reported out of House committees and bills introduced in the Senate need to be reported out of Senate committees. Funnel week is the first major deadline bills must get through in order to remain eligible for continuing debate.
During the week more than 77 bills passed House committees and more than 56 passed Senate committees. Many more bills were introduced and considered in subcommittee throughout the week. The funnel deadline will provide more clarity on which bills and topics may see further consideration as the session continues, keeping in mind that many of the bills that "survive" funnel do not go much further in the process.
The Senate continued the discussion on K-12 funding by moving SF 2201 to the floor for debate. The bill, which proposes a 1.75% increase in the SSA amount for next school year, passed the Senate on Thursday and then moved to the House where a subcommittee will consider it on Monday next week. The House has not stated at this point what level they will consider. The governor suggested a 2% increase with her budget proposal which she released last month.
The House Higher Education Committee passed 6 more bills on Wednesday. It appears that the committee has completed its work for the session as the Thursday meeting was cancelled and the House calendar for next has no meetings scheduled for Higher Education. Here are the bills relating to the universities that passed this week:
- HSB 536 - Banning the hiring of Chinese H-1B visa holders - Amended to ban citizens of foreign adversaries
- HSB 542 - Preventing courses and content relating to DEI and CRT - Amended to require the Board to review university general education curricula for
DEI and CRT material. Gives the attorney general investigative powers regarding violations of Chapter 19, DEI prohibitions - HSB 548 - Requiring the signing of the federal Higher Education Compact
- HSB 572 - Statewide articulation agreements between community colleges and regents’ universities - Amended
The House and Senate Education committees also considered some bills this week that impact the universities. They are as follows:
- SF 2303 (previously SF 2063) - Prohibiting DEI Courses - Amended to instead require the Board of Regents to review general education courses at the universities to ensure that DEI and CRT content is not required
- SF 2094 and HSB 610 - Computer Science and AI Education - Amended to remove any changes to the Regents Admission Index
- SSB 3095 and HSB 646 - Antisemitism reporting - Amended to require Community Colleges, Regent universities and school districts to prohibit antisemitism and treat harassment or discrimination that is motivated by or includes antisemitic intent, or harassment or discrimination in the same manner as any other form of discrimination
- HSB 607 - Code clean-up, obsolete programs and reporting requirement elimination - Amended to add additional reporting eliminations
- HSB 714 - K-12 social studies education and university civics exam
Looking ahead to next week we expect continued subcommittee and committee work ahead of the Friday funnel deadline. The Higher Education Committee in the House currently has no scheduled meetings and both the House and Senate Education Committees are scheduled to meet two times each.
Each week the spreadsheet below will be updated to show the latest action on the many bills that the Board of Regents staff is tracking throughout this session. Some of the below bills do not apply specifically to UNI, but we closely monitoring legislation all session that may affect our students, faculty, and campuses at all three institutions. We have been collaborating with lawmakers to ensure UNI’s voice is heard and will continue to advocate for initiatives that support our mission.
Bills that have passed committee in their respective chambers, eligible for floor debate:
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Notes | Latest Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF 703 | An Act concerning information regarding certain state and federal student loan programs | PASSED committee 1/29 | |
| HF 2066 | An Act relating to the terms of service of certain statewide boards | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2132 | A bill for an act providing for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2189 (previously HSB 567) | An Act relating to public improvement contracts, including notice requirements | PASSED committee 1/26 | |
| HF 2226 (previously HSB 530) | An Act relating to the bachelor of science in nursing program at the university of Iowa, including priority for admission | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2230 (previously HSB 555) | An Act relating to teacher education and licensing, including by modifying provisions related to practitioner preparation programs and licenses issued by the board of educational examiners | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2241 (previously HSB 540) | An Act providing for partial liability of regents institutions for defaulted educational loans | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 1/28 |
| HF 2242 (previously HSB 531) | An Act prohibiting an increase in the amount of tuition and mandatory fees charged to resident undergraduate students at regents institutions for a period of time | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2243 (previously HSB 541) | An Act requiring the state board of regents to submit a report to the general assembly and the governor related to establishing a performance-based funding model for the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2245 (previously HSB 538) | An Act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 1/28 |
| HF 2250 (previously HF 2012) | An Act authorizing resident students who are admitted to and in attendance in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program to participate in the Iowa tuition grants program | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2294 (previously HSB 580) | An Act relating to the filing of complaints with the Iowa public information board | PASSED committee 2/3 | |
| HF 2304 (previously HSB 642) | An Act relating to indirect costs charged to state-funded grants, and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2310 (previously HF 2057) | An Act providing a standing appropriation to the state board of regents for pediatric cancer research at the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2339 (previously HSB 547) | An Act regarding student admission factors to regents universities | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2361 (previously HSB 543) | An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/4 |
| HF 2362 (previously HSB 549) | An Act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/4 |
| HF 2415 (previously HF 606) | A bill for an act relating to certain health insurance policies, contracts, and plans and a special enrollment period for pregnant women. | PASSED committee 2/10 | |
| HSB 536 | An Act prohibiting regents institutions from entering into employment contracts with Chinese citizens holding certain visas | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HSB 542 | An Act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HSB 548 | An Act directing regents institutions to sign the federal Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HSB 572 | An Act relating to career education, including by modifying provisions related to career academies, the collective statewide articulation agreement between community colleges and the state board of regents, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, and individual career and academic plans | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HSB 578 | An Act relating to public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HSB 579 | An Act relating to paid parental leave for state employees | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HSB 583 | An Act relating to contracts entered into by state agencies and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HSB 607 | An Act repealing the board of regents’ minority and women educators enhancement program | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HSB 609 | An Act modifying the duties of the workforce development board, state board of education, and department of education related to cyber and artificial intelligence | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HSB 610 | An Act relating to computer science education, including high school curricula and graduation requirements, practitioner preparation programs, and college admissions, and including applicability provisions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HSB 634 | A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. | PASSED committee 2/10 | |
| HSB 714 | A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve and the educational programs provided by the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, and requiring education related to the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts. | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| SF 487 | An Act relating to employer recordkeeping and auditing requirements for purposes of unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions. | PASSED committee 2/3 | |
| SF 2039 | An Act providing for intervention by members of the general assembly in proceedings for judicial review of agency action under the Iowa administrative procedure Act | PASSED committee 1/27 | |
| SF 2199 (previously SSB 3013) | An Act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2206 (previously SSB 3030) | An Act relating to contracts entered into by state agencies and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2207 (previously SF 2037) | An Act relating to the submission of proposed legislation by state departments and agencies | PASSSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2222 (previously SSB 3048) | An Act relating to teacher education and licensing, including by modifying provisions related to practitioner preparation programs and licenses issued by the board of educational examiners | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2223 (previously SSB 3049) | An Act relating to career education, including by modifying provisions related to career academies, the collective statewide articulation agreement between community colleges and the state board of regents, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, and individual career and academic plans | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2227 (previously SF 2002) | An Act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2232 (previously SF 2033) | An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2301 (previously SSB 3103) | An Act relating to matters under the purview of the economic development authority, the utilities commission, and the department of education, including creation of the headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment program, and the business incentives for growth program training fund; repeal of the new jobs tax credit program; the major economic growth attraction program; load forecasting and analysis of electric transmission system expansion plans; creation of the electric transmission system expansion planning and analysis and load forecasting fund; the industrial new jobs training program. | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| SF 2302 (previously SSB 3006) | An Act providing for career development information for students newly enrolling in institutions of higher education and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| SF 2303 (previously SF 2063) | An Act providing for a review of undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions and authorizing elimination of certain required courses and course requirements | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 1/29 |
| SSB 3095 | A bill for an act requiring annual reports on antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts. | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/10 |
Bills that have passed committee and were referred to another committee:
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Notes | Latest Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF 2240 (previously HSB 544) | An Act creating an endowment tax on the endowment value of certain Iowa colleges and universities, limited charges relating to certain endowment funds, making appropriations to workforce grant and incentive programs, and making appropriations to supplement tuition grants for high-wage and high-demand jobs | Amended in committee Sent to Ways and Means Committee | PASSED committee 1/28 In Ways and Means Committee |
| HF 2331 (previously HSB 532) | An Act creating an attorney loan repayment program, and making appropriations | Amended in committee Sent to Appropriations Committee | PASSED committee 2/4 In Appropriations Committee |
Bills that have passed subcommittee, eligible for committee consideration:
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Notes | Latest Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF 564 | An Act relating to contracts for the construction of public improvements. | PASSED subcommittee 2/11 | |
| HF 2123 | A bill for an act relating to state entities, including by modifying provisions related to prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and officers and to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by school districts. | PASSED subcommittee 2/9 | |
| HF 2177 | A bill for an act providing paid leave to state employees for volunteer activities. | PASSED subcommittee 2/5 | |
| HF 2194 | A bill for an act relating to the membership of the Iowa law enforcement academy council. | PASSED subcommittee 2/11 | |
| HF 2270 | An Act relating to standards and performance measures for public libraries. | PASSED subcommittee 2/12 | |
| HF 2368 | A bill for an act relating to the Iowa medical freedom Act, including limitations on requiring medical interventions by businesses, governmental entities, and educational institutions, modifying state authority during public health disasters. | PASSED subcommittee 2/12 | |
| HSB 534 | An Act relating to postsecondary education institutions, including the membership and functions of the state board of regents and accreditation of public institutions of higher education | PASSED subcommittee 1/21 | |
| HSB 550 | An Act providing for accreditation of regents institutions by the commission for public higher education | PASSED subcommittee 1/22 | |
| HSB 635 | An Act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence | PASSED subcommittee 2/5 | |
| HSB 646 | An Act requiring annual reports on antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts | PASSED subcommittee 2/4 | |
| HSB 652 | An Act relating to the confidentiality of peer support communications for public safety officers. | PASSED subcommittee 2/4 | |
| HSB 663 | An Act relating to qualifications for certain rights and privileges prescribed by the state, including state employment, professional licensure, voter registration, and bail. | PASSED subcommittee 2/10 | |
| HSB 668 | An Act relating to state policies, programs, and licenses with race, gender, or citizenship requirements. | PASSED subcommittee 2/5 | |
| HSB 675 | An Act relating to education programs and systems, including career and technical education expenditures and definitions, statewide lower division general education framework and common course numbering systems, and the implementation of a statewide corequisite model in Iowa community colleges. | PASSED subcommittee 2/12 | |
| SF 2094 | An Act relating to computer science education, including high school curricula and graduation requirements, practitioner preparation programs, and college admissions, and including applicability provisions | PASSED subcommittee 1/28 | |
| SF 2143 | A bill for an act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions. | PASSED subcommittee 2/11 | |
| SF 2174 | An Act relating to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by public institutions of higher education and school districts. | PASSED subcommittee 2/11 | |
| SSB 3014 | An Act relating to the use of artificial intelligence systems and related software by state agencies for employment and other purposes | PASSED subcommittee 1/27 | |
| SSB 3032 | An Act relating to paid parental leave for state employees | PASSED subcommittee 1/20 | |
| SSB 3074 | A bill for an act relating to indirect costs charged to state-funded grants, and including applicability provisions. | PASSED subcommittee 1/29 | |
| SSB 3159 | An Act relating to public improvement contracts, including notice requirements | PASSED subcommittee 2/12 |
Bills introduced that have had no action:
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Notes | Latest Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF 175 | A bill for an act relating to in-state residency for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for certain military personnel and family members. | ||
| HF 2026 | An Act relating to the display of flags on public schools and state-owned buildings | ||
| HF 2116 | A bill for an act relating to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by public institutions of higher education and school districts. | ||
| HF 2134 | A bill for an act relating to rental agreements and early termination rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes | ||
| HF 2136 | A bill for an act relating to the confidentiality of library records of a minor | ||
| HF 2146 | A bill for an act relating to leaves of absence from civil public employment for members of the military | ||
| HF 2153 | A bill for an act requiring community colleges, school districts, and institutions under the control of the state board of regents to adopt policies related to the use of artificial intelligence by students and employees. | ||
| HF 2156 | A bill for an act relating to the eligibility of certain individuals employed by educational institutions for unemployment insurance benefits between two successive academic years or terms. | ||
| HF 2225 | An Act creating a new graduate nonresident tuition tax credit available against the individual income tax. | ||
| HF 2258 | An Act relating to health insurance coverage for infertility | ||
| HF 2266 | An Act providing for family medical leave for grandparents | ||
| HF 2314 | A bill for an act relating to health insurance coverage for specified pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders and postinfectious autoimmune encephalopathy. | ||
| HF 2388 | A bill for an act relating to public records, including employment separation information for certain government employees, contractors, or appointees. | ||
| HF 2407 | A bill for an act relating to civil remedies for deprivation of constitutional rights; immigration enforcement limitations in hospitals, licensed child care centers, and public institutions of higher education; and protections against civil arrest at courthouses; and including effective date provisions. | ||
| HF 2413 | A bill for an act relating to executive branch functions, including ratification of major administrative rules and certain other actions, other matters relating to the state rulemaking process, and terms of service of certain appointed members of certain boards. | ||
| HF 2429 | A bill for an act relating to prohibited terms in state agency publications. | ||
| HSB 535 | An Act prohibiting land acknowledgments by regents institutions | Subcommittee TABLED the bill | |
| HSB 539 | An Act providing for a due process policy for faculty, staff, and students at regents institutions and for related disciplinary matters | Subcommittee TABLED the bill | |
| HSB 606 | An Act requiring reports to the general assembly regarding establishment of certain postsecondary student athletic programs | ||
| HSB 625 | A bill for an act relating to the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights. | ||
| HSB 655 | An Act relating to reports on major maintenance projects for state infrastructure. | ||
| HSB 718 | A bill for an act relating to practitioner preparation programs, including by modifying the preparation required to be included in practitioner preparation programs and the duties of the state board of education and the director of the department of education. | ||
| HSB 725 | A bill for an act relating to education reporting, including the sharing of unit-level wage data for secondary and postsecondary program evaluation, the establishment of the condition of education report, consolidating certain required reports, modifying responsibilities for the future ready Iowa last-dollar scholarship report, modifying Iowa workforce development data-sharing provisions, and creating a return on investment reporting system to be overseen by the Iowa student aid commission. | ||
| SF 2031 | An Act relating to arbitrator awards concerning base wages in public employee collective bargaining and including effective date and applicability provisions | ||
| SF 2041 | An Act providing for payroll deduction for membership dues to an employee organization under public employee collective bargaining, and including applicability provisions | ||
| SF 2047 | An Act relating to insurance coverage for prescription insulin drugs | ||
| SF 2072 | A bill for an act relating to state entities, including by modifying provisions related to prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and officers and to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by school districts. | ||
| SF 2076 | A bill for an act relating to a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at accredited private institutions and regents institutions for students during student teaching experiences in the state. | ||
| SF 2106 | A bill for an act relating to residential rental property price fixing, and providing civil penalties. | ||
| SF 2119 | A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions. | ||
| SF 2194 | An Act relating to the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights. | ||
| SF 2211 | A bill for an act relating to the Iowa medical freedom Act, including limitations on requiring medical interventions by businesses, governmental entities, and educational institutions, modifying state authority during public health disasters, and including effective date provisions. | ||
| SF 2238 | A bill for an act relating to public records, including the duties of lawful custodians. | ||
| SF 2239 | A bill for an act relating to a family leave and medical leave insurance program that provides for paid, job-protected leave for certain family leave and medical leave reasons for eligible employees of specified employers. | ||
| SF 2243 | A bill for an act relating to the operation of state government, including the commencement of audits, information made available to the auditor of state, and disputes between governmental agencies. | ||
| SF 2248 | A bill for an act providing for paid family and medical leave to certain employees who have a child receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit. | ||
| SF 2263 | A bill for an act relating to the carrying, transportation, and possession of weapons. | ||
| SF 2314 | A bill for an act relating to executive branch functions, including ratification of major administrative rules and certain other actions, other matters relating to the state rulemaking process, and terms of service of certain appointed members of certain boardS. | ||
| SF 2322 | A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage for prescription insulin drugs. | ||
| SSB 3134 | A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. | ||
| SSB 3163 | An Act relating to education programs and systems, including career and technical education expenditures and definitions, statewide lower division general education framework and common course numbering systems, and the implementation of a statewide corequisite model in Iowa community colleges. | ||
| SSB 3164 | A bill for an act relating to education reporting, including the sharing of unit-level wage data for secondary and postsecondary program evaluation, the establishment of the condition of education report, consolidating certain required reports, modifying responsibilities for the future ready Iowa last-dollar scholarship report, modifying Iowa workforce development data-sharing provisions, and creating a return on investment reporting system to be overseen by the Iowa student aid commission. | ||
| SSB 3166 | A bill for an act concerning administrative rules relating to the uniform rules on agency procedure and including effective date provisions. |